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Location: Nantucket, Massachusetts, United States

The following ISS sightings are possible from Monday Sep 21, 2020 through Tuesday Oct 6, 2020

Date Visible Max Height Appears Disappears Share Event
Mon Sep 21, 7:32 PM 4 min 37° 31° above WNW 10° above NE  
Mon Sep 21, 9:09 PM < 1 min 14° 12° above NW 14° above NNW  
Tue Sep 22, 8:22 PM 2 min 17° 15° above NW 14° above NNE  
Wed Sep 23, 7:34 PM 3 min 21° 19° above NW 10° above NNE  
Wed Sep 23, 9:11 PM < 1 min 11° 10° above NNW 11° above NNW  
Thu Sep 24, 8:24 PM 2 min 14° 10° above NW 13° above N  
Fri Sep 25, 7:36 PM 3 min 15° 12° above NW 11° above NNE  
Fri Sep 25, 9:13 PM < 1 min 10° 10° above NNW 10° above NNW  
Sat Sep 26, 6:50 PM 2 min 17° 17° above N 10° above NNE  
Sat Sep 26, 8:26 PM 2 min 14° 10° above NNW 14° above N  
Sun Sep 27, 7:39 PM 4 min 14° 10° above NNW 10° above NE  
Mon Sep 28, 6:51 PM 4 min 14° 10° above NW 10° above NNE  
Mon Sep 28, 8:28 PM 1 min 17° 10° above NNW 17° above N  
Tue Sep 29, 7:40 PM 3 min 16° 10° above NNW 15° above NE  
Wed Sep 30, 6:53 PM 4 min 15° 10° above NNW 10° above NE  
Wed Sep 30, 8:30 PM 2 min 23° 10° above NW 23° above NNW  
Thu Oct 1, 7:43 PM 3 min 25° 11° above NNW 25° above NE  
Fri Oct 2, 6:55 PM 5 min 20° 10° above NNW 10° above ENE  
Fri Oct 2, 8:32 PM < 1 min 27° 18° above NW 27° above NW  
Sat Oct 3, 7:44 PM 3 min 53° 12° above NW 49° above ENE  
Sun Oct 4, 6:57 PM 6 min 35° 10° above NW 13° above E  
Sun Oct 4, 8:35 PM < 1 min 21° 18° above W 21° above W  
Mon Oct 5, 7:48 PM 2 min 52° 31° above W 41° above S  
2020-09-21 23:32:00.0,Mon Sep 21, 7:32 PM,4 min,37°,31° above WNW,10° above NE|2020-09-22 01:09:00.0,Mon Sep 21, 9:09 PM,< 1 min,14°,12° above NW,14° above NNW|2020-09-23 00:22:00.0,Tue Sep 22, 8:22 PM,2 min,17°,15° above NW,14° above NNE|2020-09-23 23:34:00.0,Wed Sep 23, 7:34 PM,3 min,21°,19° above NW,10° above NNE|2020-09-24 01:11:00.0,Wed Sep 23, 9:11 PM,< 1 min,11°,10° above NNW,11° above NNW|2020-09-25 00:24:00.0,Thu Sep 24, 8:24 PM,2 min,14°,10° above NW,13° above N|2020-09-25 23:36:00.0,Fri Sep 25, 7:36 PM,3 min,15°,12° above NW,11° above NNE|2020-09-26 01:13:00.0,Fri Sep 25, 9:13 PM,< 1 min,10°,10° above NNW,10° above NNW|2020-09-26 22:50:00.0,Sat Sep 26, 6:50 PM,2 min,17°,17° above N,10° above NNE|2020-09-27 00:26:00.0,Sat Sep 26, 8:26 PM,2 min,14°,10° above NNW,14° above N|2020-09-27 23:39:00.0,Sun Sep 27, 7:39 PM,4 min,14°,10° above NNW,10° above NE|2020-09-28 22:51:00.0,Mon Sep 28, 6:51 PM,4 min,14°,10° above NW,10° above NNE|2020-09-29 00:28:00.0,Mon Sep 28, 8:28 PM,1 min,17°,10° above NNW,17° above N|2020-09-29 23:40:00.0,Tue Sep 29, 7:40 PM,3 min,16°,10° above NNW,15° above NE|2020-09-30 22:53:00.0,Wed Sep 30, 6:53 PM,4 min,15°,10° above NNW,10° above NE|2020-10-01 00:30:00.0,Wed Sep 30, 8:30 PM,2 min,23°,10° above NW,23° above NNW|2020-10-01 23:43:00.0,Thu Oct 1, 7:43 PM,3 min,25°,11° above NNW,25° above NE|2020-10-02 22:55:00.0,Fri Oct 2, 6:55 PM,5 min,20°,10° above NNW,10° above ENE|2020-10-03 00:32:00.0,Fri Oct 2, 8:32 PM,< 1 min,27°,18° above NW,27° above NW|2020-10-03 23:44:00.0,Sat Oct 3, 7:44 PM,3 min,53°,12° above NW,49° above ENE|2020-10-04 22:57:00.0,Sun Oct 4, 6:57 PM,6 min,35°,10° above NW,13° above E|2020-10-05 00:35:00.0,Sun Oct 4, 8:35 PM,< 1 min,21°,18° above W,21° above W|2020-10-05 23:48:00.0,Mon Oct 5, 7:48 PM,2 min,52°,31° above W,41° above S|

What am I looking for in the sky?

The space station looks like an airplane or a very bright star moving across the sky, except it doesn’t have flashing lights or change direction. It will also be moving considerably faster than a typical airplane (airplanes generally fly at about 600 miles per hour; the space station flies at 17,500 miles per hour).

Below is a time-lapse photo of the space station moving across the sky.

The International Space Station is seen in this 30 second exposure as it flies over Elkton, VA early in the morning, Saturday, August 1, 2015. Photo Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls The International Space Station is seen in this 30 second exposure as it flies over Elkton, VA early in the morning, Saturday, August 1, 2015. Photo Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

Visit the NASA Johnson Flickr Photostream

How do I Spot The Station?

What does all this sighting information mean?

Time is when the sighting opportunity will begin in your local time zone. All sightings will occur within a few hours before or after sunrise or sunset. This is the optimum viewing period as the sun reflects off the space station and contrasts against the darker sky.

Visible is the maximum time period the space station is visible before crossing back below the horizon.

Max Height is measured in degrees (also known as elevation). It represents the height of the space station from the horizon in the night sky. The horizon is at zero degrees, and directly overhead is ninety degrees. If you hold your fist at arm’s length and place your fist resting on the horizon, the top will be about 10 degrees.

Appears is the location in the sky where the station will be visible first. This value, like maximum height, also is measured in degrees from the horizon. The letters represent compass directions -- N is north, WNW is west by northwest, and so on.

Disappears represents where in the night sky the International Space Station will leave your field of view.

Astronomical Horizon chart. Click the link for a detailed description of the astronomical horizon and sighting alert messages.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration Page Editor: Bill Keeter NASA Official: Jacob Keaton